Amusement or exercising device



Dec. 5, 1944. E. D. GIBB 2,364,137

AMUSEMENT OR EXERCISING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1943 lumen 2'07:

- Edwin 12L Gibb UNITED Patented Dec. 5, 1944 7 Q STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT on EXERCISING nnvIoE Edwin D. Gibb, United states Navy Application July 14., 1943, Serial No. 494,712

2 Claims. (01. 273-106) This invention relates to a new form of. game or device adapted to be employed by the user or users for amusement, exercise or relaxation.

It comprises an improved object, body, missile or shuttle, which I have termed a Josh, adapted [to be maintained in flight in the air by the manof the player, at the same time affording mus cular exercise and intenseinterest in the participants, without requiring the eX-penditude of strenuous, muscular, energy or the use of brute strength. 3 f i a A further objectof the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is conducive to theimprovement of muscular coordination and development, sense of balance, quickness of the eye and muscular reaction, and a sense of balance and rhythm. H

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement or exercising device or game which may be played or employed either indoors or outdoors, by one or more persons of either sex and of any age, and which may be used as l leisurely or. as strenuously as the player desires Otherand further objects and advantages of I the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: l l

Figure l is a perspective view,indicating one manner in which thedevice may be used.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the object, body,

missile or shuttle which forms the'most important element of the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modification. I

The amusement device comprises an object, body, missile or shuttle indicated generally at Ill and consisting of an elongated, cylindrical body end l3, and which may be circular in cross-section as indicated in Figure 3, or otherwise shaped. 5 The device, further comprises a substantially conical, tapering enlargement l4, intermediate the ends of the body H and having an inverted base l5 and a reduced lower end I Gjoined to the shaft Ilat ll. The object, shuttle or Josh l0 maybe made,

of any suitable material, such as any of well known plastics now employed for articles of manufacture; or pressed paper pulp, cardboard, bound sawdust, light wood, light metal, or similar materials. Theshaft ll may be tubular, having a hollow or substantially hollow interior, reinforced if desired, or it may be substantially solid, in the sense that it may bemoulded from any suitable mouldable material, or turned down from a larger piece of stock, for instance, on a lathe.

The conical enlargement l4 -may be integral with the shaft ,H and made of the same material, or, if desired, it maybe formed from a separate piece or pieces, suitably secured thereto.

It may be hollow or substantiallyso, if made from sheet material, or substantially solid, if

made from mouldable material or turned down from alarger piece of st0ck,,on a lathe.

Onemanner of constructing the device [0 is to make theshaft H ofa cardboard or plastic 25 on, securing the latter in place by any suitable tube andto fit the conical enlargement Hi theremeans, such as an adhesiveor the like. In this type of construction, the conical enlargement may be made from similar materials or may be made from relatively solid materials, such as wood ora plastic.

Another manner in which this device may be constructed is to form a, solid rod or shaft ll from mouldable material or by turning down a ,piece of relatively light wood orthe likeand then applying the conical enlargement, which may be similarly constructed and secured in place by any suitable fastening devices or adhesive.

Still another suitable manner of constructing the device ll] isto mould the shaft H and the conical enlargement M in one piece, from any to the conical body, a sheet of rubber, abrasive .orshaft ll, having an upper end 12 and a lower suitable material, or, to turn the device down on a lathe from a single piece of stock.

Asshown in Figure 4, the conical enlargement l8 may be covered with a non-slipping surface l9, which may be provided by adhesively uniting paper or cloth, leather, such as suede or buck, or an equivalent material. body l8 may be made of rubber of the desired weight and resiliency, toprovide a good striking surface and a tough, long-wearing body and a non-slipping surface. Many other variations in construction will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, such as directly applying abrasive par- If desired, the entire ticles to the surface of the conical enlargement, or otherwise constructing the body l8 of a material having a high coefficient of friction.

Although the dimensions of the object Ill may be varied within reasonable limits, I have found that substantially the proportions shown are preferred and that the shaft l I should be substantially 18" in length and 1%" in diameter. The base l of the conical enlargement M should be positioned substantially 3" from the upper end [2 of the shaft H and should itself be substantially 4 /2" in diameter. From the base IE to the line of junction ll of the conical enlargement with the shaft II, the vertical dimension should be substantially 4 leaving the lower portion of the shaft, from the line I! to the lower end I 3 substantially in length.

- In addition to the object, body, 'missle orshuttle II), the amusement or exercising device includes one or more implements or sticks 20, 2 I, as shown in Figure 1. These sticks may be of wood or any other suitable material and their weight, shape, thickness, length and size are not critical. .It is only necessary that they be sufficiently strong to impart the necessary strikin force tothe object l0 when the game is played.

In use, the Josh Ill is tossed back and forth in the air, between the sticks 20, 2!, after the manner of a shuttle. This flight of the shuttle is accomplished by striking the same at the estimated best point on the surface ,of the-cone l4, first using thestick held in one hand and then the o-nein the other. The shuttle is usually given a sharp upward inclined or oblique blow, and, if properly struck, it will travel through the air on a curved path, with a rocking motion and without turning over, end for end, or rotating appreciably about its longitudinal axis. If improperly struck, the shuttle will turn end for end or will plummet and will otherwise soon get out of control. Also, if a spinning motion is imparted to the shuttle, the gyroscopic effect thereby produced will interfere with the desired rhythmic rocking motion.

Hence, it is important to acquire skill in the use of the device, particularly in striking exactly the right spot on the conical enlargement with the correct amount of force, in order to maintain the shuttle in its proper flight and to overcome and correct improper flight phenomena, should they occur.

The game can be played by one person, or the Josh can be .juggled or passed from one to another, or among any desired number of persons. Any reasonable number of persons may be divided into teams and numerous games and contests devised, for the amusement, entertainment andexercise of all.

It will be understood that the object of the game is tokeep the shuttle or Josh in the air in controlled flight, without permitting it to get out of control or touch the ground. Because of the peculiar construction of the Josh and, more particularly, the conical surface provided between v the ends of the balancing or stabilizing shaft, the

device may be struck and manipulated with extreme accuracy and control when used by a skilled player.

The shuttle or J oshof the present invention must be distinguished from objectsor missles of the prior art, such as diabolos, aerial tops, and other devices adapted to have a spinning or whirling motion imparted thereto, since the device of the present invention is fundamentally different, in that, as stated above, it travels through the air with a rocking, rhythmic, balanced motion under the control of the player, and without any substantial spinning or rotational movement, about its longitudinal axis. lAlSO, the device must be-distinguished from toy airplanes, gliders, kites and the like, since it does not depend, during its flight, upon the principles of such devices.

The game or device, because of its simplicity and the small space required for its accomplishment, lends itself for manipulation indoors or in confined quarters. Since no preparation or additional equipment is needed, the game or device may be employed regularly or at oddmoments. The game or exercise promotes improvement in muscular coordination and skill and provides an excellent amusement and exercising device for relaxation, enjoyment and muscular development.

The device of the present invention i well adapted for imposed physical exercise for the eyes, which exercise is recognized by doctors as being of great merit. Practice with the implement of the present invention provides exercise for the development and correction of eye muscles and strengthens and maintains these muscles in normal health.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing and described above, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. An amusement or exercisingdevice comprising an elongated cylindrical shaft having any .ment having its base positioned in spaced relation from the upper end of the shaft and its peak merging with the shaft at a line above the median point in the length thereof, said enlargement presenting a downwardly facing inclined surface adapted to be struck by an implement with an upwardly inclined blow, to maintain the device in flight with a rocking, rhythmic motion.

EDWIN D. GIBB. 

